Britax Recalls Strollers & Infant Carseats — REPORT

On Thursday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of two Britax products: the B-Safe 35 carseat and the B-Ready stroller/travel system. Both recalls were issued by Britax, and according to the CPSC, "the foam padding on the stroller’s arm bar [and the carseats handle] can come off in fragments if the child bites the arm bar, posing a choking hazard."

While specific model numbers are listed on Britax.com and on the CPSC website, affected strollers were manufactured between April 2010 and December 2012. Approximately 60,000 units were affected, with 49,000 being sold in the U.S. and 11,000 sold in Canada. Affected carseats were manufactured between October 2014 and July 2015 and included 71,000 units in the U.S., 3,900 in Canada, and 990 in Mexico.

Both recalls came about after Britax received reports of "children biting the arm bar foam padding," according to the Huffington Post. In the case of the stroller, there were "five reports of children choking or gagging on foam fragments" and in the case of the carseat, some handles developed "fractures, cracks and/or break[s]...while in use," according to the CPSC. (And, in one case, a break actually caused injury to an "infant...when the carrier fell to the ground.")

The CPSC advised consumers with affected strollers to immediately remove the foam-padded bar:

Consumers should immediately remove the arm bar from recalled strollers and replacement top seats and contact Britax for a free black, zippered arm bar cover and a warning label to apply to the strollers and replacement top seats. Consumers can continue to use their strollers without the arm bar attached.

However, those with affected carseats should stop carrying the seat by the handle immediately, according to the CPSC:

Consumers should immediately stop carrying the car seat by the handle until the repair is installed.

The recalled Britax strollers and carseats were sold Babies R Us, buybuy BABY, Target, Amazon.com, Diapers.com and other stores/online retailers nationwide.

Britax advised those with affected strollers and/or carseats to contact them as soon as possible, as the company will send replacement parts/repair kits. (Consumers who previously registered their product(s) with Britax should automatically receive said parts/kit.)

Image: Britax/CPSC